The Basics of Biblical Counseling - Biblicalcounselingonline.org

INSTITUTE FOR BIBLICAL COUNSELING AND DISCIPLESHIP
CONSENT TO COUNSELING
Our Goal: The purpose of Biblical Counseling is to help you meet the challenges of life in a
manner which is pleasing and honoring to the Lord Jesus Christ. Our counseling is offered free
of charge as a ministryof Grace Bible Church of North County, a California non-profit
corporation. Counselees are welcome to make a donation to the ministry;however, this is not a
required condition for counseling. You have no obligation, express or implied, to pay fees for the
counseling you receive through IBCD; however, donationsare appreciated and will help ensure
thatthe ministrycontinues. It costs us about $65 for each hour ofcounseling.
Biblical Basis: Counseling received through IBCD is strictly religious in nature and is
conducted under the authority and leadership of Grace Bible Church of North County.
We believe that the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, provides thorough
guidance and instruction for faith and life (cf. II Timothy 3:16-17, II Peter 1:3-4). Our counseling
is based solely on the principles of Scripture and does not employ the teachings or methods of
modern psychology or psychiatry.
Counselee Initials:
Other Professional Advice: If you have significant medical, legal, financial, or other technical
questions, you should seek the advice of a competent, independent professional. Our counselors
will cooperate with suchadvisors and will help you consider their counsel in the light of biblical
principles.
We urge our counselees to properly care for their physical bodies and to seek medical treatment
for all physiologicalproblems. Our counselors will assist you in responding to such problems in
a godly manner, but our counsel is not intended to replace the services of a qualified physician in
thetreatment of organic problems.
Confidentiality: Confidentiality is an important partof the counseling process. As IBCD differs
in some respects with traditional guidelines regarding confidentiality, we have developed a
policy which specifically addresses this issue. Said policy is attached to, incorporated in and
subject to the other provisions of this Consent to Counseling Agreement.
Conflict Resolution Arbitration: On rare occasions, a conflict may develop between a
counselor and a counselee. The Bible commands that Christians make every effort to live in
peace and to resolve disputes with each other in private or withinthe Christian Church (cf.
Matthew 18:15-20;I Corinthians6:1-8), without involvement of the secular courts. Therefore, in
order to ensure faithfulness to this biblical principle, we require all counselees to agree that any
claim or dispute arising under, out of, in connection with, or relating to, the counseling received
at IBCD or anydispute with a counselor thereof, or with the Grace Bible Churchof North
County, shall be settled by biblically-based mediation and, if necessary, legally binding
arbitration in accordance with the Rules of Procedure for Christian Conciliation of the Institute
for Christian Conciliation (a copy of which is available on request).
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